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Mayors of Cincinnati, suburbs join Bloomberg gun sales fight
BY TERRY KINNEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted Thursday, April 12th 2007, 8:50 PM
CINCINNATI - Flanked by 14 new members of a mayors' coalition, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Thursday a national television and Internet campaign against federal legislation that he said would hamper cities' efforts to combat illegal guns.
Bloomberg said the campaign would oppose the so-called Tiahrt Amendment, a rider added to congressional appropriations bills that Bloomberg said restricts cities' access to government information on illegal guns.
New York's billionaire mayor said he would provide initial funding for the campaign.
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory formally joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition at the Thursday event, as did 13 suburban mayors from around Ohio and Kentucky, bringing the group's total membership to 182.
"Public safety is a regional issue that requires a united response," Mallory said. "Criminals do not recognize municipal boundaries, and we need to make sure that our efforts do not stop at our individual borders either."
Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino launched the coalition last year to press the government to share federal gun trace data with local law enforcement.
The National Rifle Association's lobbying arm says on its Web site that the Tiahrt Amendment would protect gun owner privacy. But a rival gun group, the American Hunters & Shooters Association, has thrown its support behind the mayors.
Bloomberg dismissed any arguments in favor of the amendment.
"Keeping illegal guns off our streets has absolutely nothing to do with the Second Amendment or the rights of lawful gun owners," Bloomberg said. "It's about enforcing the law and cracking down on criminals."
Cincinnati last year had 89 homicides, more than in any year since police began keeping consistent records in 1950. Mallory says that most killings in the city are drug-related.
Bloomberg said a national campaign is the only effective way to fight illegal gun sales.
"This is not a battle that can be waged within state lines," he said. "It is a national problem that affects all of us. Solving it requires local governments to work together to share information and to coordinate our strategy."
New York has sued 27 gun dealers in various states, including Ohio, alleging they sold firearms illegally to undercover private investigators conducting a sting for the city. Officials say the dealers have supplied hundreds of weapons used in New York crimes.
"Plain and simple, we are trying to keep guns out of the hands of criminals," Bloomberg said. "Those criminals are killing our children and killing our police officers, and it's just got to stop."
BY TERRY KINNEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted Thursday, April 12th 2007, 8:50 PM
CINCINNATI - Flanked by 14 new members of a mayors' coalition, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Thursday a national television and Internet campaign against federal legislation that he said would hamper cities' efforts to combat illegal guns.
Bloomberg said the campaign would oppose the so-called Tiahrt Amendment, a rider added to congressional appropriations bills that Bloomberg said restricts cities' access to government information on illegal guns.
New York's billionaire mayor said he would provide initial funding for the campaign.
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory formally joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition at the Thursday event, as did 13 suburban mayors from around Ohio and Kentucky, bringing the group's total membership to 182.
"Public safety is a regional issue that requires a united response," Mallory said. "Criminals do not recognize municipal boundaries, and we need to make sure that our efforts do not stop at our individual borders either."
Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino launched the coalition last year to press the government to share federal gun trace data with local law enforcement.
The National Rifle Association's lobbying arm says on its Web site that the Tiahrt Amendment would protect gun owner privacy. But a rival gun group, the American Hunters & Shooters Association, has thrown its support behind the mayors.
Bloomberg dismissed any arguments in favor of the amendment.
"Keeping illegal guns off our streets has absolutely nothing to do with the Second Amendment or the rights of lawful gun owners," Bloomberg said. "It's about enforcing the law and cracking down on criminals."
Cincinnati last year had 89 homicides, more than in any year since police began keeping consistent records in 1950. Mallory says that most killings in the city are drug-related.
Bloomberg said a national campaign is the only effective way to fight illegal gun sales.
"This is not a battle that can be waged within state lines," he said. "It is a national problem that affects all of us. Solving it requires local governments to work together to share information and to coordinate our strategy."
New York has sued 27 gun dealers in various states, including Ohio, alleging they sold firearms illegally to undercover private investigators conducting a sting for the city. Officials say the dealers have supplied hundreds of weapons used in New York crimes.
"Plain and simple, we are trying to keep guns out of the hands of criminals," Bloomberg said. "Those criminals are killing our children and killing our police officers, and it's just got to stop."